Lyric Arts had a chance to interview Debbie Swanson, who is performing, as Vernadette, in The Dixie Swim Club. Read on to hear what she has to say about her experience thus far!
LA: Why should women come and see The Dixie Swim Club?

DS: As I’ve gotten older, I have really learned the value of having “girl” friends. This show has such strong writing that illustrates the bond long- term women friends can have. Through thick and thin, they are there for each other and I think all of us women can certainly relate to that!

LA: Talk about your fellow cast members, how do you see their charactersdeveloping? Any that you are particularly amazed at?

DS: All of the women I’m working with are such fantastic actors! As we rehearse, everyone is experimenting with their lines—trying to get the right inflection, timing and accents for each of our particular characters. The director-Kari Steinbach-has been leading us through the process of exploring who these “Dixie Swim Club” women are and what their motivations could be and it has been so rewarding.

LA: Being that The Dixie Swim Club is written by the same creative playwrights who also wrote The Hallelujah Girls, that Lyric Arts producedlast season, what are the differences between the shows?

DS: I think that Dixie Swim Club digs deeper. It is set over a time period of many years rather than just the one year, so the characters find themselves dealing with more issues—both the good and the bad! We see each of the women changing and growing as the years go by, so I feel like the audience will relate more to each of the women and feel more invested in their lives. But don’t get me wrong—there is plenty of one-liners and laughing to go around, just like in Hallelujah Girls!

LA: Any other area that you would like to comment on?

DS: I feel so grateful that Lyric Arts continues to choose such a wide range of shows for each of it’s seasons. Audiences get to experience a full range of shows throughout the year—from serious drama that really makes you think, to lighthearted musicals, comedies and children’s shows and then of course, well written “slice of life” shows like this one. Dixie Swim Club will be my 9th show at Lyric Arts, and I keep coming back because of the high quality productions that you offer! Thank-you, Thank-you.

We met Emily and Monica Swinney after a performance of Wait Until Dark and we were struck by their story as a military family. They had planned as a family to attend Christmas in the Airwaves t Lyric Arts in December 2015 ut were left with one empty seat when Adam was unexpectedly called away to serve.

This year, they had hoped he would be home to see Christmas Story, ut unfortunately, he is currently serving in Iraq. Emily and Monica plan to attend the show on closing weekend. So, we wanted to take a moment to tell their story in recognition of all that military families do in service of our country. Here is their story.

As the holiday season begins, we wanted to take a moment to say thanks to all those who are giving to Lyric Arts by volunteering their time. We have a very busy season with two holiday shows and we asked Gina Sauer to share her thoughts about our volunteers as well as what are needs at this December.

It is that time of year when we come to you and ask for your support through individual donations. Give to the Max Day 2016 is coming up this week (Thursday, Nov. 17) and we are asking all of you to help us rally support to help achieve our goals!

This year, we are celebrating our 21st season and as you may have read already in our blog entitled #LyricArtsIsLegal, we are growing fast and we need the funds to keep pace with that growth.

Therefore, we thought it would be fun to center our fundraising campaign goals around the number 21. We have sent some big goals for our year-end fundraising campaign but we are confident that the love and passion for our theater runs deep and that our supporters will heed the call and rise to the challenge.

"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." But wait! A mouse is stirring, because Santa missed his house last year. Before you can say "Merry Christmas!” we're off on a wild adventure involving a mouse, an elf, and a spunky little girl who just won't take no for an answer.

Lyric Arts has turned 21, we have now reached “adulthood” and we are officially legal.

“Saying, ‘We’ve turned 21, so now we are legal,’ started as a joke amongst staff members. But, it has really struck a chord with our community of artists and audiences because, in some ways, it is a really accurate description of where we are as a theater company. Lyric Arts has come out of its adolescence and is beginning the next step in its development. It’s our early adulthood,” says Laura Tahja Johnson, Lyric Arts’ Executive and Artistic Director.

Humorist Jean Shepherd's memoir of growing up in the Midwest in the 1940s follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher, and even Santa Claus himself, at Higbee's Department Store. The consistent response: "You'll shoot your eye out!"

REVIEW: Cherry and Spoon recently visited Lyric Arts to see Always... Patsy Cline. Here is what she had to say: "The new production at Lyric Arts in Anoka is perfectly cast, full of heart, and highly entertaining for anyone whose ever heard Patsy's music, and let's face it - who hasn't?"

Find out what else Cherry and Spoon thought of the show and watch a video featuring Gracie Anderson and Catherine Battocletti talking about "Capturing Cline."

In just over a week, Gracie Anderson will take the stage as Patsy Cline in Always... Patsy Cline opening Friday, October 14. It will be the sounds of Gracie's voice that fills the stage and brings audiences back in time to reminisce about how these Patsy Cline classics came to life.

We invite you to take a look at a top ten list of Patsy Cline songs and tell us your favorite. And to get you started on that journey down memory, please watch our video with Lyric Arts alum, Kate Beahan singing a beautiful medley.

Lyric Arts

Lyric Arts Main Street Stage, located in the heart of historic downtown Anoka, offers a full season of live theater (including musicals, dramas, comedies, and children’s productions) and intimate live music events as part of their “Music in the ‘Burbs” Concert Series.

The Main Street Stage (formerly the Anoka Cinema Building) was fully renovated in 2001 and features free parking, a warm and welcoming environment, and a cozy 228-seat bowl-style theater with comfortable stadium seating—there isn’t a bad seat in the house!

Lyric Arts’ lobby boasts a concession stand and bar, serving wine, beer, candy, soft drinks, fresh-popped popcorn, Caribou Coffee, and other hot beverages, all of which you can take right into the theater with you.